No matter what the season, where the event takes place, or the time of day, a chic braid is always appropriate. Going to and evening wedding at the Ritz? A braided updo is a perfect choice. Meeting your crush for an early morning coffee date? A messy braid will complete your yoga and hoodie ensemble. The best part about braided hairstyles is that many of them are actually easy to do! Granted, there are plenty of braided styles that stump even the most talented of stylists, but the majority of them look much more intimidating than they actually are… seriously. Below are step by step tutorials for two different chic braids, check it out!

The Fab and Faux Fishtail

Begin by pulling all of your hair to the back of your heady and securing it into a low pony. For the best-finished result, we recommend securing it with a sturdy clear elastic (or two-to-three of tiny clear ones so that they provide a stronger hold) or a regular hair tie that matches your hair color.

Stick your thumb under the elastic and up through the center of the hair above the elastic. If you’ve done it correct you should be about to pull the half section of your hair apart from the other half by using your thumb and index finder.

With your free hand grab the “tail” of the ponytail, flip it up and tuck it through the opening that you’ve just made with your thumb. You’ll pull the hair all the way through. It should look as if you have a few inches of a fishtail above your ponytail.

Three-or-so inches below the original elastic, wrap another clear or color-matching elastic around the hair and use your fingers to separate the section of hair between the two elastics (the same way you did in step 2).

Just as you did in step 3, flip and tuck the “tail” of the ponytail through the opening.

Repeat septs 4 and 5, adding as many sections as the length of your hair permits.

Triple Braided Knot

The first thing you’ll want to do is back comb or tease a wide section of hair that runs along your hairline which lies at the crown of your hair. This will create the volume you need to slay this sexy updo.

Divide your hair into three even sections. Secure each section with a tiny clear elastic.

Braid each of the sections moderately tight, then secure them at the end with another elastic.

Even though you braided each braid moderately tight, use your pointer finger and thumb to pull the hair apart, this way the braid becomes wider and appears a bit fuller.

Twist each braid around itself until it coils on itself. At this point, it should be twisted all the way to the base of the section. Secure it to your scalp by inserting color matching bobby pins.

Repeat the previous step to the remaining two braids, then give your updo a bit of extra hold with some hairspray.